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unknown-art-room1 · 21 days ago

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Starlight Express Headcannons

I don't have many at the moment, but I can try to share what I got, though most will be character related. I'm not gonna go over every character, but the ones I've drawn so far: Greaseball, Caboose, Electra, Dinah, Pearl, Rusty, Hydra, Flattop, and Dustin.

Let's start off with this, I don't think most of the names are names, but actually nicknames. I don't have much to go off of but I think all the characters have human names that are just puns. The coaches are a great example of this; Dinah, Carrie, Ashley, Buffy and etc. The only reason I am saying this, is because of Rusty. He tells others to call him Rusty even if it is mean, it fits but it's not his name. I don't know what the others would be called but it's kinda fun to speculate.

Greaseball

This next one I got no evidence for, but I believe the trains are based on real people. Control has them as toys, but if he was gifted the toy by someone I believe that train is based on that person. Rusty is supposedly his dad's old train so Rusty looks like his dad, Momma/Poppa is based on his grandparents (they kinda act like grandparents in my mind), Pearl would be based on his mom, etc. If he has a train he bought himself, then they're based on someone else he knows or has seen. I really wouldn't be surprised if Control saw a drag queen and thought they looked really cool and that's where Electra's form came from.

Less of a headcannon and more of a theory... But I think the trains actually have a Toy Story/Harry and His Bucket Full Of Dinosaurs vibes. The musical is a dream, but for a dream the kid honestly talks to them and interacts with them more how you might with real people. He talks to them directly, they listen, as he has control over them in a sense. We see this throughout the performance as he threatens to put them in the box if they don't behave. But, he only has control over them when they're the main focus. When they aren't the main focus and towards the end, the trains can act as they want, they tell him to "shut up". I fully believe the dream was only the start of several adventures to come for this kid and his toys.

This one is silly, but I think the engines have different sneezes. Steamers whistle, diesel their horns blow, and the electrics just sound like their computer programme is crashing.

Greaseball, apart from being Southern and an absolute simp I can see them having an interest in engine repair and modification. Look they can't spell, they can only do the more physical based activities well so they might not have had any "schooling" in a sense. Instead they has a more hands on approach, learning things from physically experience. So, before they became a racer I can see them taking an interest in engines, could also explain why they were called Greaseball. Always covered in grease.

Caboose

This one is more for the male version of Greaseball just because he's got the deeper voice, but I could see him doing an Elvis or Johnny Bravo impression to make Dinah laugh.

I've only seen clips, but I think Greaseball is touch adverse to a degree. Whenever it comes to them touching others, they are usually the one who initiates the touch. But if he is being touched by others, they usually watches them as they do it. Caboose put a hand on his shoulder, he turns his head and watches as he does it before looking away. The only person he doesn't really do this with is Dinah. Yes, he usually initiates the touch with her but it's more of an offer. Flexes their muscles, puts their hand out for her to hold while they roll away, he either looks after she touches or before she does, never as it happens. Hell, the whole neck rub thing before they race, they don't let anyone touch them but Dinah.

You can't tell me, if they get angry you wouldn't hear their engine rev. I swear, it's like with every angry huff, it's just the engine revving more and more.

Unlike most of the others, who would be made of plastic or metal as they're toys, I like to think CB is actually made of wood. I don't know how to explain it, but sometimes the actor makes him look wooden in photos which is both creepy and confusing. I don't know how he does it, but the idea of CB being wooden leads to a few behavioural habits. Either he moves about on purpose like a doll to creep others out, just staring at you unblinking or even moves about like a puppet being moved... Or the other idea he tries to bite like he's a literal nutcracker. If given the chance he will bite as a warning or for fun and you'll never know if it's meant to hurt until it's too late.

He can float... This one is kinda self explanatory, but he's wooden so he floats on the water until he becomes water logged.

This one is more silly, but I feel like Caboose would identify as whatever gender is most useful to them or just to do it for a laugh. So, they are now known as the Gender Jester.

Electra

I actually have a few for Electra, so I'm gonna start off with my personal favourite, their mohawks are wigs that connect via magnets. They're electric, they can control others movements via electricity, so holding a wig to their head should be easy... Unless they crash and their system is on the Fritz.

Apart from being a racer and a diva, they secretly are a gamer in their free time. Spending as much time as possible by their computer or whatever counsel they are using. Wearing very relaxed clothes, like a hoodie and joggie bottoms.

Dinah

Everyone says she stress bakes/cooks which I can agree with, but I would also say if she is stressed about someone for whatever reason, she stress bakes/cooks for them. Oh? Rusty is getting stressed about how much work he has to do around the railyard? Okay, time to make him his favourite stew to cheer him up! Pearl is anxious about being new here? Sugar cookies with glitter!

Pearl

This one, I'm not sure if you guys will agree with this one... But I swear she is secretly scary. She gets possessive about Greaseball, she talks about getting revenge after being dumped (especially the revival version), and I swear in one version she does also bully Rusty? I think she's only nice to those she likes, anyone else I can see her being mean to or willing to fight them if given the right motivation.

Dinah started the whole spelling thing for her work. Why? Well some of the people who need to buy food might not know how to say the name of the food, it's just easier to spell it. Especially if it is a kid who is ordering food. A habit she picked up, and kept when not wanting to say certain words around others, or if the word is more negative.

She fell for Greaseball first, they fell harder, I will die on this hill... Unless you give me a really cute alternative.

I only have one for Pearl so far, but it's because she is a new train. She's the new toy for Control, she's got a name, a slight personality but apart from that she doesn't have much else going on for her. The coaches introduce themselves to her first and kinda adopt her into their group. Pearl doesn't know anything about the railyard, only about her friends and her interests that Control gave her. I honestly believe she is more like a child. Not in age or physical form, but her curiosity, she doesn't know how the social hierarchy and norms of the trains are. So, what she likes or what she does she doesn't see it as wrong, just new and confusing.

Take her liking Rusty or teaming up with Greaseball. The other coaches judge her for liking Rusty at first, but she doesn't care. When she teams up with Greaseball, she says "it's only fun". Yes, she was confused about her feelings at the time between GB and Rusty, but she just wants to race. At the time she knows teaming up with Rusty isn't accepted by the others, so Greaseball asking her to race with them? Why wouldn't she say yes? I'm not saying what she did was right, with how she hurt Dinah, but I don't think she did it to be malicious.

Rusty

Hydra

This one is just really me agreeing that Rusty has a whistle stim. But, I also believe the whistle he has also reflects his other emotions, same thing for when he steams. High pitched happy whistle, defeated/deflated it goes from high to low pitched, silly it kinda sounds like he is going "wa, was, waa", angry is both a loud high pitched whistle but he is actively streaming... And in love/flustered soft steam and quiet whistle every time he sighs.

Next to Momma/Poppa, he is the designated train for dealing with the Freights when they misbehave or need to be maintained. That is if they'll listen, doesn't always work if they don't respect him, but he is basically the sibling left in charge of his unruly family.

Flattop

Anything water based they love. Aquariums, ice drinks, water sports/activities, etc. They absolutely love it, they would definitely be the one to start a water fight on a hot day.

When hanging around with Porter, Lumber and Slick, their favourite thing to do together isn't dancing or working. It's a steam bath. Water, coals, maybe logs and some scented oils. Yeah, it's something the four of them can all agree on and have a secret spot where they do this to relax.

The only way you could make them stay still, put a water wheel in front of them. It has both water, and something that spins... Just be careful they don't try to climb it and balance on top of it as it moves, we don't want another accident.

Dustin

He likes football. Not American Football, European football. Either he gets involved or he loves to watch it. If he gets involved, sometimes he can get a bit physical bit if he gets too competitive. If he just watches he is worse, in this case he can watch and judge, and if he sees something that he doesn't agree with... Let's just say he can get a bit... Passionate. Needing to be dragged away before he starts a fight.

Flattop acts tough, and chaotic, but give him a chance and he's a real softie. He would kind of be like that fun uncle, he really loves to annoy you but if you were ever in trouble he is the first on the case to come to your rescue.

He's a lightweight when it comes to drinking. That's it.

He's the sweetest, we all agree with that. I feel as if the coaches would love him. Big friendly guy who is shy? They would dote on him! He has his special interest, which he will defend but he never tries to do anything that would annoy the others. You can't tell me they wouldn't love him.

Despite how shy, and anxious he gets he would go out of his way to make sure you are okay. Something scary happens? He goes to the train that's furthest away or alone to keep them company until everyone knows it's okay again.

Dustin is an ambrivert. He is shy around others, but put him with his close friend or he is sharing his interests and he comes out of his shell completely.

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